Our work Projects Securing and Enhancing Indigenous Land Tenure in Guyana (Phase ll)

Securing and Enhancing Indigenous Land Tenure in Guyana (Phase ll)

Ongoing

From: 01/02/2023

To: 31/01/2026

Budget: 3,001,887 USD

Proponents: Amerindian Peoples Association (APA)
South Rupununi District Council (SRDC)

Stakeholders: 88 indigenous communities which are members of 8 districts, 3 villages which are not under any district

The most important recent development in land and resource governance in Guyana is the ratification of the country’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LDCS), which is likely to have consequences for all land-use related activities. Amongst a wide range of targets and policies, the LCDS makes an explicit statement that recognises that Indigenous Peoples have the right to determine their own development pathway, and implicit recognition of indigenous knowledge in reference to proposals to establish an International Centre for Biodiversity Research. The also references community forestry, non-timber forest products, and forest ecosystem services as important for development.

To read a brief overview of Guyana, click here.

For a timeline of land and forest rights in Guyana, click here.

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Project Overview

Since the first phase of this project, political development in Guyana has had drawbacks for the progression of securing tenure rights. Phase one gave insight to forestry and land use issues in Guyana; data on forest extent, concessions, and indigenous lands remains valid.

Achieving the over-arching vision for Guyana’s approximately 70,000 indigenous people requires that they have legal and functional control over their customary lands. Internally, they work towards institutions which enable effective, transparent and democratic debate and decision-making. They also will have the technical capacity and access to information that will enable them to monitor and manage their lands and resources so as to provide sustained livelihoods.

Communities will work towards negotiating and collaborating effectively with government, private sector and other groups in Guyanese society, both to address threats to their lands, such as mining and logging, and to secure support for key development challenges.

Goal

Indigenous communities in at least eight territories and three villages have secured their land rights and begun to address threats to the sustainable management of their natural resources

Objectives

Indigenous communities have the information required to protect and manage their resources.
Indigenous People’s institutions strengthened and community engagement increased
Engagement in development and implementation of government policies and regulations
APA as an increasingly sustainable & resilient organisation

Actions

Communities monitor their land and resources to detect and respond to threats
Communities access support from government to address threats and problems identified
Specific communities obtain corrections to title, legal title and extensions
Decisions from priority land tenure legal cases are implemented and become precedents for reform
Communities are aware of and engage with planning decisions that affect them
Communities plan and manage use of their lands and resources to sustain ecosystems and livelihoods

Expected impact

Indigenous communities in Guyana have secure land rights, strong institutions and the skills needed to enhance their decision-making processes and livelihoods through sustainable natural resource management.
The people of Guyana will benefit in the long term with more secure ecosystem services.
The project will also contribute to securing global climate-related benefits by promoting sustainable management of Guyana’s forest resources.

Paul Graham Atkinson
Project Manager
APA

email: atkinson@apaguyana.com